Some like it spicy.

... and our weekend project.

Hello my dear friends - and happy Friday.

Today is a happy Friday. As I type this, I’m looking out the window from my bed (my favorite writing spot) and can see the sun absolutely radiating over the entire valley. It’s sunny. Freezing cold, but still. Sun.

I liken myself to a plant. I need the sun, the fresh air, the bees, the breeze, the soil. Over homemade sourdough bagels this morning, I told Stuart that I miss being around bees. They’re my little companions in the garden. Much like our little collection of hummingbirds that visit us each spring, summer, and autumn.

In our seven years here, we have created a little oasis of critters and microbes. When my hands touch the soil, somehow, they seem to know it. And somehow, the soil seems to know me. (I’d like to think my bees… and my hummingbirds… also know me.)

I so badly miss these relationships in the winter.

But we’re getting there, ya’ll.

We’re still eating through the stores of winter foods that we put up in last year’s garden. This week, I wanted to share with you my spicy oven fries that I often make. They’re fast and can be served alone or alongside steak, roast, chicken, a piece of fish, etc.

It’s Friday, so today, I’m happy to enjoy them with an afternoon glass of wine while I sit here and soak in this stupendous sunshine. Perhaps I’ll even get my hands into that cold, cold soil today - just for the sake of it.

I've probably never fully made this recipe the same way twice, but if you’d like a more hard-and-fast recipe than what I give in the video, you can find that right here.

While the fries bake, I’m also supervising this project today:

Two years into our basement remodel and we’re finally getting around to finishing up our corner fireplace. Lord willing, we’ll be patching vent holes, tiling edges, and hanging the mantle over the coming week.

Can’t wait to share more.

In the meantime - spicy oven fries.

Have a great weekend, my friends.

Cheers,

Shaye